System and method for on-demand storage of randomly selected data

ABSTRACT

A data storage system allows a subscriber to store data at the time the subscriber experiences the date with an indication, such as a press of a button or a voice command. The indication causes a request to obtain and store the data to be issued. For example, the subscriber can store music while listening to it, store or request movies while viewing them, or store movie soundtracks while viewing movies. The entire music file can be stored, for example, in a vehicle in which the subscriber is traveling. For some environments, such as storage in a cellular telephone, a portion of the music is stored in a format compatible for that environment, such as cellular telephone ring tone format. When the indication is received, a determination is made as to which music is required, generally by determining the time of the indication. The music heard by the listener is then downloaded for storage in accordance with the subscriber&#39;s request. Movies, songs or soundtracks can be stored when they are viewed or heard, for example, while in a movie theater.

The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/713,143, filed on Nov. 17, 2003, which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety. The present applicationfurther claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Appln. No. 60/571,918,filed May 18, 2004, which is hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to recording data,such as music or movies. More specifically, embodiments of the presentinvention relate to storing the data at the time a subscriberexperiences it, such as while listening to a car radio or while watchinga movie at a movie theater.

2. Background

There are numerous times when one sees or hears something that he or shewould like to store for future use. For example, while driving a car,one may hear a song playing on the car radio that he or she would liketo record for future listening. Similarly, in a movie theater, one mayhear a song or see a movie that he or she would like to store for futurelistening or viewing. However, in these and many other circumstancessuch storage is inconvenient or impossible. For example, in the case ofdriving a car, systems for recording the music are rare, and to theextent that they exist, they have a significant drawback. That drawbackis that the song is not stored from its beginning. Rather, the song isonly stored from the time that the subscriber indicates that he or shedesires that it be recorded. This is undesirable because the whole songis not recorded. Similarly in a movie theater, there is no way to storethe song or soundtrack of the movie at the time it is heard. There arenumerous other examples where a person may desire to store data he orshe is experiencing, for example, a song playing on the radio, a moviesoundtrack, a song in the soundtrack or the movie itself while viewing amovie.

In addition to recording music, people also often desire to store themusic in different formats. For example, a person may hear a song on theradio and desire to store the song as a ring tone for a telephone suchas a cellular telephone. Conventional systems allow cellular telephonesubscribers to select and upload to their cellular telephones variouspre-recorded ring tones. Conventional systems further allow cellulartelephone subscribers to create or generate their own ring tones.However, such systems do not allow subscribers to store a song that theyare currently listening to as a ring-tone or in some other format.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides subscribers with the ability to storemusic, and other data, at the time they experience it. For example,music can be stored when it is heard, such as while driving in a car. Inaddition, movies and/or movie soundtracks can be stored or requestedwhile sitting in a movie theater.

In one embodiment, the present invention is a system for storing music.The system includes a device for playing music that is heard by asubscriber. When the subscriber hears music that he or she desires tostore, the subscriber requests such storage. A request is generated inresponse to a subscriber request to store music. A transmitter in thesystem transmits the generated request to obtain the music for storage.A music database is queried to obtain music responsive to thesubscriber's request. The music is sent to a storage device thatreceives and stores the music.

In another embodiment, the present invention is a method for storingrandomly selected music on demand. The method includes receiving anindication from a subscriber to store music to which the subscriber islistening. The method continues with the steps of generating andtransmitting a request to obtain the desired music from a music storagedatabase. The method continues with the step of transmitting a filecomprising the music desired to be stored for storage in response to therequest. The method then continues with the step of storing the music.

In another embodiment, the present invention is a system for storing oneor more of a movie, song in a movie or a movie soundtrack. The systemincludes a seat in a movie theater having a card reader to read a creditcard or other card provided by a subscriber. The system includes a firstcomputer coupled to the card reader to obtain information from the cardand to determine an identity of the movie, song and/or movie soundtrack.A second computer coupled to the first computer obtains the informationfrom the first computer. The system also includes a database that hasdata corresponding to one or more movies, songs in the movies and moviesoundtracks that is queried by the second computer and provides datacorresponding to the identified movie, song, or movie soundtrack to thesecond computer in response to the query. A destination computerreceives the data from the computer and a storage device stores the datareceived from the database.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system for storing music according toa first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a system for storing music in a caraccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the presentinvention in which a third party music service provides music storageand retrieval services rather than the subscriber or the music provider.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a system for storing music according toanother embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the present inventionin which the receiving device is a cellular telephone.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart for a method for storing randomly selected musicaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the present inventionfor use in storing music or movies that a subscriber hears or viewswhile watching a movie.

FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention in which thestorage apparatus for storing the data requested by the subscriber islocated in a home of the subscriber.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a system for transmitting the musicover the Internet to the subscriber's home according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the present inventionusing general requesting device.

FIG. 10A is a schematic diagram of a general device for storing dataaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10B is a flow chart for a method of storing data using a generaldevice for storing data according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart for a method for identifying the beginning of asong.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart for a method for providing authorization ofstorage of music requested by a subscriber according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of a receiver having two tuners accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram of an alternative embodiment of areceiver having two tuners according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system for storing music according toa first embodiment of the present invention. A subscriber driving a car102 hears music he or she desires to store. When the subscriber hearsthe music desired to be stored the subscriber indicates his or herdesire to store the music. The indication is a request by the subscriberto store music he or she is listening to at the time that he or she islistening to it. The indication can be provided in numerous ways. Forexample, according to one embodiment of the present invention, thesubscriber presses a button. In an alternative embodiment of the presentinvention, the indication is provided by a voice command. In anotherembodiment of the present invention, the indication is provided bysliding a credit card or other card through a card reader.

When the subscriber's indication is detected, a request is caused to betransmitted to a base station 104 over an air interface 106 through anantenna 108 on car 102. Base station 110 receives the request through anantenna 110. Methods for communicating the request from car 102 to basestation 110 are well known to those skilled in the art. For example, inone embodiment of the present invention, base station 104 is a cellphone base station, in which the request is transmitted to the basestation according to well-known cellular telephone protocols. In anotherembodiment of the present invention, base station 104 is a Wi-Fi hotspot, wherein the request is communicated using well-known 802.11b or802.11g protocols. Other methods for communicating the request from car102 to base station 104, such as Bluetooth technology, satellite orother communication systems, would be appreciated by those having skillin the art.

The request contains information required for carrying out the functionsof the present invention. For example, the request can include thesubscriber's name, or telephone number, subscription account number orany other information for uniquely identifying the subscriber. Usingthis information, the music provider can obtain other requiredinformation from an account that has been created for the subscriber. Inaddition, the request can obtain an identification of the music tostore, the time the request was made or any other information requiredto carry out the functions of the present invention described herein.This information is used to access the music that will be sent to thesubscriber for storage.

Base station 104 then transmits the request to a music store computer114 in a music provider 116. Music provider 116 can be, for example, aradio station that plays songs heard by the subscriber or a third partyprovider. Music store computer 114 is coupled to a music store database115. Music store database 115 stores music corresponding to the musicthat is heard by the subscriber. Music store computer 114 can be anycomputer that can be configured to operate in the manner describedherein. Such computers, including for example, desktop computers andlaptops, are well known and need not be described in detail further.

Music store computer 114 is configured to receive the request anddetermine what music the subscriber desires to store. The music thesubscriber desires to store is the music being played by music provider116 at or near the time the subscriber makes his or her request to storethe music. For example, music store computer 114 can consult a play list117 of music provider 116 to determine the song being played by musicprovider 116 at the time that the request is received or a time that isincluded in the request when transmitted.

Play list 117 is a list of songs provided (i.e., played) by musicprovider 116. In an embodiment of the present invention, play list 117has a time slot associated with the songs listed therein. The time slotindicates the time of day the song is scheduled to be played by musicprovider 116. Music store computer 114 can consult a time slot of theplay list to determine the song that was scheduled to be played at aparticular time, and the song so scheduled as the song responsive to thesubscriber's request.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, information aboutthe song is transmitted in the request, which music store computer 114can use to determine which song is being played. For example, the titleof the song and artist can be transmitted in the request. Suchinformation is provided in certain digital radios, for example, carradios that display the title and artist of a particular song beingplayed. In another embodiment of the present invention, otheridentifying information is captured and sent in the request. Forexample, a song serial number or catalog number that is detected by aradio in the car that the user is listening to and provided in therequest.

After determining the song that is being played, music store computer114 uses that information to query a music store database 115. Musicstore database 115 stores complete versions of the songs correspondingto the music that music provider 116 provides. For example, where musicprovider 116 is a radio station, music store database 115 stores themusic corresponding to the radio station's play list. In alternativeembodiments of the present invention, music corresponding to the titleand artist, or serial or catalog number provided in the request isobtained from music store database 115 and stored. The music in musicstore database 115 can be updated periodically as the music provided bymusic provider 116 changes. The music can be stored in any format. Forexample, in one embodiment of the present invention, music is stored inmusic store database in a digital format, such as MP3.

The result of the query is that the music identified in the subscriber'srequest is transferred to music store computer 114 from music storedatabase 115. An advantage of the present invention is that the entiresong is transferred, not just the portion of the song from the time thesubscriber selects it. This is advantageous because the subscriber doesnot need to select the song at its very beginning in order to store theentire song. Another advantage of the present invention is that thesubscriber does not have to know the artist or title of the song inorder to store it.

Music store computer 114 then transfers the music to base station 104.Base station 104 then transmits the music to car 102 using anytransmission protocol for storage therein. Such transmission protocolsare well known to those skilled in the art, and include for example,cellular telephone protocols, Wi-Fi protocols, Wi-Max protocols,satellite protocols or any other transmission protocol that can be usedto transmit the music. For example, in one embodiment of the presentinvention, the music is transferred in a digital format. The music isthen stored in a music storage device in car 102.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating storage of music in car 102according to an embodiment of the present invention. For example, thedevice illustrated in FIG. 2 can be a car stereo or any other devicethat can receive and store music according to embodiments of the presentinvention. A transceiver 202 receives the music through an antenna 108.Transceiver 202 contains a receiver portion for receiving music and atransmission portion for transmitting music. Transceiver 202 can be anyreceiver and transmitter combination, including a separate receiver andtransmitter, and does not have to be integrated in a single unit. Thereceived music is amplified, filtered and demodulated as required by areceiver portion of transceiver 202 and transferred to a computer 204.Computer 204 can be any computer configured to receive music from thereceiver portion of transceiver 202. Though shown as external in FIG. 2,the receiver portion of transceiver can be internal or external tocomputer 204. For example, the receiver portion of transceiver 202 canbe included in a card inserted into computer 204.

Computer 204 is coupled to a music storage device 206. Music storagedevice can be any device that can store the music transmitted to it bycomputer 204, and can be integral with computer 204. For example, musicstorage device 206 can be a floppy drive, hard drive, CD-ROM, a DVD or aRAM device. Well known techniques for burning CD-ROMs or DVDs can beused where music storage device 206 is a CD-ROM or DVD storage device.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, transceiver 202,computer 204 and music storage device 206 are configured to fit insideof car 102. Transceiver 202 can be any transceiver designed for thepurposes of transceiver 202 described above. For example, in oneembodiment of the present invention, transceiver 202 is a standard carstereo that can receive, amplify, filter and demodulate signals frombase station 104 as well as modulate, amplify, filter and transmit thesubscriber's request for storing music. In this embodiment of thepresent invention, receiver 202 is located in a dashboard of car 102.The computer 204 and music storage device 206 can be located anywhere incar 102. For example, computer 204 and music storage device 206 can bestored in a trunk of car 102.

A storage button 208 that the subscriber presses to request storage of asong can be located in a number of places in car 102. For example, inone embodiment of the present invention, the storage button 208 islocated on a control panel (front) of a conventional car stereo. Inanother embodiment of the present invention, the storage button 208 islocated on the steering wheel of car 102. Button 208 can be located inother places as well. For example, the button can be located on aportable device, such as a device that can be kept on a key chain orother portable device. In operation, pressing storage button 208 causescomputer 204 to generate the request.

It should be understood that transceiver 202 can be a receiver only. Forexample, in an embodiment of the present invention, each song is storedin music storage device 206 or alternate temporary storage temporarilyfrom its beginning when it is sent to the device schematicallyillustrated in FIG. 2. For example, such storage can be in apredetermined area of music storage device 206. If a subscriber desiresto store a particular song permanently, the subscriber can provide anindication of that desire. For example, the subscriber can push requestbutton 208 to indicate that he or she desires to store musicpermanently. Upon making the indication, the desired music is moved fromthe predetermined temporary storage area to a permanent storage area ofmusic storage device 206.

In embodiments of the present invention where music is stored locally ina temporary storage as it is played (such as in a digital receiver), therequest to store the music need not be sent externally to a musicprovider. Rather, in such cases, the storage location of the beginningof the song currently being played is identified, and the song issubsequently stored to music storage device 206. Further, in a digitalreceiver, the receiver can be configured to store a portion of each songreceived or the entire song, to provide the user with an opportunity topress the storage request button 208.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart for a method for identifying the beginning of asong stored in a temporary storage as it is played according to anembodiment of the present invention. In step 1102, a song is receivedfor playing to a user. When the song is initially received, the memorylocation in which the first byte or word or its data is stored in acurrently playing song storage location. Later, when a user provides anindication that a currently playing song should be stored from itsbeginning, in step 1104, the system accesses the currently playing songstorage location to determine where the beginning of the song is.

In some systems, the song data includes a header that providesadditional information regarding the song. For example, the header mayinclude information such as that title of the song, the artist, the filelength and other additional information related to the song. In such acase, all or part of the header can be stored along with the song data.In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the header can beused to generate another header that is in a format expected by thestorage device into which the song is stored. In another embodiment ofthe present invention, the song is stored without a header.Consequently, in step 1106, the system determines if there is a header.If there is no header, the song is stored from the beginning in step1108. If there is a header, the header is processed (either ignored,copied or converted) in step 1110, and the song is stored from thebeginning in step 1108.

Embodiments of the present invention can also provide authorizationprior to storage of the music. FIG. 12 is a flow chart for a method forproviding authorization of storage of music requested by a subscriberaccording to an embodiment of the present invention. The methodillustrated in FIG. 12 is applicable generally to storage requests fromand storage of music to a vehicle. That is, the method of FIG. 12 isgenerally applicable to many embodiments of the present invention.

In step 1202, the subscriber's request to store music (or other data) isreceived. In step 1204, a subscriber database is queried usinginformation in the received request. The information includes anidentification of the subscriber, such as the subscriber's name or thesubscriber's account number. The subscriber database containsinformation for each subscriber of the system. In an embodiment of thepresent invention in which music storage authorization is operative, theinformation contained in the database for each subscriber includeswhether the subscriber is authorized to store music.

If the subscriber is authorized to store music an authorization code soindicating is returned in a return message in step 1206. Theauthorization code can be any code that can be used to indicate that thesubscriber is authorized to store music (or other data). For example, inone embodiment of the present invention, the authorization code can be abit that is set in a predetermined word of the return message. If thebit is set, the subscriber is authorized to store music (or other data).If the bit is not set, the subscriber is not authorized to store music(or other data). In another embodiment of the present invention, theauthorization code is a predetermined bit pattern that is stored in apredetermined location in the return message. If the predetermined codeis detected in the return message, the subscriber is authorized to storethe music (or other data). If the predetermined code is not detected inthe return message, the subscriber is not authorized to store the music(or other data).

The authorization code is received in a return message in step 1208. Instep 1210, the return code is checked. If the return code indicates thatthe subscriber is authorized to store music (or other data), the music(or other data) is stored in step 1212 and the method ends in step 1214.A message indicating successful storage of the music can be provided tothe user. If the subscriber is not authorized to store music in step1210, the method ends in step 1214. In the case where the subscriber isnot authorized to store music, a message so indicating can be providedto the user. Messages indicating status of the storage process can beprovided in other embodiments of the present invention as well.

The receiver portion of transceiver 202 can be the same receiver used toreceive the music that is played initially, or a separate receiver.Where the receiver is the same receiver, a number of techniques can beused to receive the music data while receiving the music that is beingplayed. In a digital radio for example, the music is received and storedwhile the song is playing. In that case, in response to the user'srequest, the beginning of the song being played at the time of therequest is identified as described above, and the song is stored.

The authorization code allowing storage of songs can also be stored inthe radio at the time of manufacture. In such a case, the subscriberpays a premium to be able to store songs any time.

Some digital radios may not store the song as it is being played. In anembodiment of the present invention employing such a digital radio sucha case a request is sent back to the music provider as described aboveto store the music. The music provider that provides the music to bestored can do so using well-known data multiplexing techniques tomultiplex the data corresponding to the music to be stored with the datacorresponding to the normal programming. When the multiplexed data isreceived, a de-multiplexer in the receiver can separate the multiplexeddata stream so that the desired song can be stored, while stillproviding normal programming to the subscriber.

In an analog radio, where the same receiver is used to receive musicdata and play music, the music data can be sent using well-knownbandwidth sharing techniques. For example, in one embodiment of thepresent invention, the data can be sent on a separate carrier. A secondtuner in the receiver that is tuned to the separate carrier having themusic data is used to received the music data. The signal received bythe second tuner is amplified, filtered and demodulated as required torecover the music data, which is then stored.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of a receiver 1302 having two tuners, oneused in receiving the music for playing and one used in receiving themusic data according to an embodiment of the present invention. Themusic signal having the music data modulated thereon at a separatecarrier is received through antenna 1304. The music signal is split andsent to two demodulation paths. A carrier F1 carries the music beinglistened to and a carrier F2 carries the music data to be stored. In thefirst path, the music signal is amplified by amplifier 1306, filtered infilter 1308 and demodulated in tuner 1310 using carrier frequency F1,supplied by oscillator 1312. The demodulated music is played throughspeaker 1312. In the second path, the music signal is amplified byamplifier 1316, filtered in filter 1318 and demodulated in tuner 1320using carrier frequency F1, supplied by oscillator 1322. The demodulatedmusic is stored in music storage device 1324.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram of a receiver 1402 having two tuners, oneused in receiving the music for playing and one used in receiving themusic data according to another embodiment of the present invention. Themusic signal having the music data modulated thereon at a separatecarrier is received through antenna 1404. A carrier F1 carries the musicbeing listened to and a carrier F2 carries the music data to be stored.The music signal is amplified by amplifier 1406, filtered in filter1408. The filtered signal is then split to provide a split signal havinga first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the splitsignal is demodulated in tuner 1410 using carrier frequency F1, suppliedby oscillator 1412. The demodulated music corresponding to the firstportion of the split signal is played through a speaker 1418. The secondportion of the split signal is demodulated in tuner 1414 using carrierfrequency F1, supplied by oscillator 1416. The demodulated music isstored in music storage device 1420.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention for music storageusing an analog radio, a second receiver is provided. The secondreceiver is used to receive the music data, which is received and thenstored.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the presentinvention in which a third party music service 302 provides musicstorage and retrieval services rather than the music provider. Forexample, third party music service 302 can be a business set up toretrieve and deliver music according to the present invention.

In the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 3, asubscriber indicates a desire, for example, by pushing a button, tostore currently playing music in the manner described above with respectto FIG. 1. The subscriber's indication causes a request to be generated.The request can be as described above. In addition, in the embodiment ofthe present invention illustrated in FIG. 3, the request is configuredto include an identification of the music provider, for example, musicprovider 116. This identification is required because in the embodimentof the present invention illustrated in FIG. 3, a third party musicservice 302 is designated to respond to the subscriber's request, notmusic provider 116.

The request (including the identification of the third party musicservice) is received in the base station and transmitted from basestation 104 to third party music service 302 over a transmissioninterface 303. Transmission interface 303 can be any transmissioninterface, including air or land, including for example, computernetworks, telephone networks, satellite networks, and combinations ofsuch networks, that is capable of transmitting the request from basestation 104 to third party music service 302. Such transmissioninterfaces as well as transmission of the request over such transmissioninterfaces are well known to those skilled in the art.

A music store computer 304 receives the request. Music store computer304 can receive the request directly if it is configured to receivetransmissions from interface 303 or it can receive the request fromother equipment (not shown) that is capable of receiving the requesttransmitted over transmission interface 303.

When the request is received, music store computer 304 extracts theidentification of the music provider that is playing the music that thesubscriber wants to store from the request, for example, music provider116. Music store computer 304 then generates a music identificationrequest that it sends to a music provider computer 307 in music provider116. Preferably, the music identification request comprises theextracted identification. Music store computer 114 in FIG. 1 can also beconfigured to perform the functions of receiving and responding torequests from third party music services according to the presentinvention.

Music provider computer 307 receives the music identification requestand determines that it is a request to identify music that is beingplayed at the time of the subscriber's request. In one embodiment of thepresent invention, music provider computer 307 consults play list 117 toidentify the music being played at the time of the subscriber's requestto store the music. As described above, for example, the identificationcan be by title, artist, a music catalog number or any otheridentification of the music.

Music computer 307 transmits or causes to be transmitted theidentification of the music to music store computer 304. Music storecomputer 304 receives the identification of the music and uses it toquery a music store database 308. Music store database 308 receives thequery containing the identification of the music, retrieves the musicbased on the identification and forwards the music to music storecomputer 304. Music store computer 304 forwards the music to basestation 104, which then transmits the music to vehicle 102 for storagetherein as described above.

In alternative embodiments of the present invention, music provider 116receives the request for identification of the music from music storecomputer 304 and itself responds to the request by transmitting themusic to base station 104 or to music store computer 304 fortransmission to base station 104 as described above. In this manner,music service 302 does not have to keep its own independent copy ofmusic store database 308.

In another embodiment of the present invention, music store computer 304receives the identification of the music being played from musicprovider 116 and sends it to another party (not shown) that has a musicstore database with instruction that the other party satisfy thesubscriber's request by sending the music corresponding to theidentification through base station 104 to car 102 for storage.

If third party music service provider 302 determines that it does nothave the requested music stored in music store database 306, it can senda message so indicating to be displayed to the subscriber in car 102.For example, such message can be displayed on the radio display of carradio in car 102.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a system for storing music according toanother embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment illustratedin FIG. 4 uses many of the concepts described above for communicating asubscriber request to store music to a party that satisfies thatrequest.

FIG. 4 illustrates communication of the subscriber's request using theInternet 402. It would be appreciated by those skilled in the art thatany computer network can be used, provided it has the appropriatedevices connected thereto for carrying out the present invention. Asshown in FIG. 4, music provider 116, third party music provider 302 andbase station 104 are coupled to the Internet 402 through links 404, 406and 408 respectively. These Internet connections are established inmanners that are well known to those skilled in the art.

In operation, for example, a subscriber desires to store music that heor she hears while traveling in car 102. In an embodiment of the presentinvention, the subscriber indicates this desire by pressing a button.Pressing the button, causes a request to be generated as describedabove. The request is sent to base station 104. Base station 104 canforward the request to a number of places. In one embodiment of thepresent invention, for example, base station 104 determines where tosend the request based on an address included in the request. Forexample, the address can be the network address of the computer that therequest is to be sent to. When using the Internet, the request alsoincludes appropriate addressing for forwarding the request to theappropriate music provider to handle the request. This can be forexample, a computer network address of a music store computer 114 ormusic store computer 104.

Base station 104 determines the address of a computer associated withthe music provider that will handle the request, and forwards therequest to the music provider indicated by the address included in therequest. The address can be predetermined and stored in base station 110or can be provided in the request sent to base station 104. In thelatter instance, the request is stored in the computer making therequest, for example computer 204. The music provider associated withthe address receives the request, and identifies the music desired bythe subscriber as described above. The music is retrieved and sent backthrough Internet 402 to base station 104. Base station 104 transmits themusic to car 102 where it is stored as described above. Base station 104can also send the music to any other music storage device having anInternet address. For example, as described above, the music can bestored in a music storage device in the user's home.

Alternatively, the music responsive to the request can be sent toanother computer. In such an embodiment, the request includes an networkaddress of the recipient computer. Using such an embodiment of thepresent invention, a subscriber can give gifts. For example, thesubscriber can provide the address of a gift recipient's computer as therecipient computer's network address. By providing the gift recipient'scomputer address, the music is stored to the gift recipient's computer.Further, according to embodiments of the present invention, the giftrecipient's computer can also be a car stereo having music storagecapabilities as for example described above with respect to FIG. 2.

Music providers are able to bill for their services. Such billing can beon a per use basis or a periodic basis and can be prepaid or postpaid. Aper-use subscriber is billed for each use of the system, for example,for each music storage request. A periodic subscriber is billed forusing music storage services according to the present invention for aperiod of time, for example, one month. During that period of time, thesubscriber can make as many requests for storage of music as desired.Other billing paradigms can also be used.

Billing requires that subscribers be uniquely identifiable. Thissubscriber identification can be implemented any way to uniquelyidentify the subscriber. A common such way is to assign an accounthaving an account number to the subscriber. The account can be createdduring a registration process. The account number can be assigned to thesubscriber through the registration process.

Information about the subscriber can also be obtained during thisregistration process. The information can be stored in a configurationfile or other account file of the subscriber. For example, thesubscriber's name, address, age, income, ethnicity, sex and any otherinformation can be obtained. This information can be used to createreports concerning which types of subscribers use the service, when theyuse it and what music they prefer. Such reports can be sold tointerested parties. Information required for billing, such as creditcard account information, electronic contracts, billing information andany other required billing information can be obtained from thesubscriber during registration. Any such information obtained is stored,for example, in an account corresponding to the subscriber.

The account number can be stored in computer 204. When the subscriber'srequest is transmitted to the music provider, the account number can betransmitted as well. The music provider receives the account number anduses it to access an account associated with the subscriber. One purposefor accessing the account is to obtain billing information so that thesubscriber can be appropriately billed for using the service.

Another reason for accessing the account is to store information aboutthe request for generating reports as described above. The informationcan include any information. For example, the information can includethe title of the music, the artist of the music, the time the requestwas made and any other desired information.

In operation according to one embodiment of the present invention, anidentification of the subscriber, for example a subscriber accountnumber, is included in the request transmitted to base station 104. Whenthe music provider receives the request, it extracts the subscriberidentification and uses it to access the subscriber's account. Thisaccount can be, for example, the subscriber's account created duringregistration. If the subscriber is a per-use subscriber, the musicprovider accesses the account and bills the subscriber appropriately.For example, in a per-use billing embodiment of the present invention,the billing may be a one up number stored in the subscriber's accountindicating the number of times the service was used. This number is thenconsulted at the end of a billing period, for example, a month, and thesubscriber is billed in accordance with this one up number. Afterbilling, the one up number is reset.

If the subscriber is a periodic subscriber, the music provider accessesthe account to verify that the subscriber is a registered subscriber. Ifthe subscriber is a registered subscriber, the subscriber's request issatisfied. If the subscriber is not a registered subscriber, thesubscriber's request is denied.

Subscribers can also prepay to use a system according to the presentinvention. Such prepayment can be on a per-use or periodic basis. In aprepay system, the subscriber pays in advance of using the service. Thesubscriber's account is increased by the amount paid. In a prepaidper-use system, each time the subscriber uses the service, the accountis reduced by an appropriate amount (the per-use cost to the subscriberto use the service). In a prepaid periodic system, at the beginning ofthe period, or any other desired time, the subscriber's account isdeducted by an amount corresponding to the fee for periodic use of themusic storage service.

It should be understood that music providers can use any combination ofbilling. For example, music providers can offer per-use billing to somesubscribers, periodic billing to some subscribers and prepaid billing tosome subscribers.

A problem that might be encountered when storage of the music is to amobile platform such as car 102 is that of interrupted service duringdownloading of music from the music provider responding to thesubscriber's request. For example, if vehicle 102 moves out of acoverage area of base station 104 during downloading of music, it islikely that an incomplete file will be downloaded. Communication usingsatellite can solve this problem as the satellite footprint or coveragearea can be quite large, and generally large enough to cover the area inwhich the mobile platform is likely to move. In an embodiment of thepresent invention, a satellite communication link is used to downloadthe music to the mobile platform for storage.

Another technique for solving the problem is to use the cellulartelephone network. Cellular telephone service has reduced this problemsomewhat through its handoff technology. Thus, if vehicle 103 iscommunicating with a base station that is a cellular telephone basestation, it can use cellular handoff technology to possibly continue thedownload process.

However, downloading can be interrupted even using handoff technology.To overcome this problem in one embodiment of the present invention, adownload success flag is used. The download success flag default isTRUE, indicating that a download was successful. If however, a downloadis unsuccessful, the download success flag is set to FALSE. In oneembodiment of the present invention, the download success flag is storedin computer 204. Computer 204 monitors the success flag. If computer 204determines that the success flag is FALSE, it takes action as describedbelow. After the corrective action is taken, the download success flagis reset to TRUE.

When computer 204 determines that the success flag is set to FALSE,computer 204 causes the subscriber request to be retransmitted whencommunication is established with a base station that can respond to therequest. For example, car 102 may come within the coverage area ofanother base station that can respond to requests to store musicaccording to the present invention. The retransmitted request cancontain the same information as in the originally transmitted request.In addition, the retransmitted request can contain any other informationto identify the request as a retransmitted request.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the retransmitted requestcauses music to be downloaded to vehicle 102 from the beginning of themusic file. Storage of the music takes place as described above. In thisembodiment, preferably, the file that may have been started previouslyis deleted or written over.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a progress marker isused to indicate how much of the music has been successfully downloaded.For example, if 50 percent of music file was successfully downloaded,the progress marker would so indicate. For example, the progress markedcan be in terms of amount of data sent in bytes, percentage of filesuccessfully transmitted or any other progress indication that providesthe amount of the file successfully sent.

Using a progress marker precludes the need to restart downloading of themusic from the beginning of the music file. Rather, the progress markercan be sent in a retransmit request. In this case, the music file fromwhich the music is obtained is opened, and downloading begins from thepoint indicated by the progress marker. For example, if the progressmarker indicates that 50 percent of the file had been successfullytransmitted, downloading begins with the data after that 50 percent. Ifthe progress marker is in terms of absolute number of bytes sent,downloading begins with the next byte in the file as indicated by thevalue of the progress marker.

In one embodiment of the present invention using a progress marker, theoriginally downloaded portion of the file is opened, and the new data isappended to this file. Use of the progress marker makes the downloadingprocess more efficient in the event of interrupted downloading becausedownloading does not have to begin from the beginning of the music file.Rather only the portion not yet downloaded need be obtained. Theprogress marker can be updated if there is another interruption ofmusic, and the process of re-downloading the music file is repeatedusing the updated value of the progress marker.

In another embodiment of the present invention, base station 104 is acellular telephone base station. This embodiment of the presentinvention provides another means for requesting the music storageservice of the present invention. In this embodiment of the presentinvention, the subscriber makes the request for storing music using acellular telephone. For example, such a request can be made by dialing aspecial music request number on the cellular telephone. By dialing themusic request number, the subscriber is connected to a music provider,be it the provider that actually plays the music or a third party musicprovider.

Upon receiving the telephone call, the music provider attempts todetermine the music that is requested. Where the music provider is theprovider of the actual music that the listener hears, this can simply bea query of a play list to determine the music that is being played atthe time of the telephone call.

Where the music provider is a third party music storage provider,several techniques can be used for determining the identity of the musicprovider. For example, the music provider can prompt the subscriber toenter the call letters of a radio station that the subscriber islistening to. Alternatively, the subscriber can input the call lettersof the radio station using the corresponding keys on the dial pad of thecellular telephone. Another technique that can be employed is to havethe subscriber speak the call letters of the radio station into thephone. The music provider can use well-known voice recognitiontechniques to decode the spoken call letters to determine the identityof the music provider.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the subscriber enters oris prompted to enter one or more digits that correspond to the radiostation that the subscriber is listening to. The digits can be comparedto a list that has music provider identities and corresponding one ormore digits that can be entered by the subscriber. Such a list forexample, can be a table stored in a memory of third party music computer304. This table can be generated from information provided by thesubscriber when the subscriber registers for the music storage serviceoffered by a third party music storage provider. Alternatively, thetable is pre-configured. In one embodiment of the present invention thistable is modifiable by the subscriber, for example, by accessing awebsite of the third party provider that makes such modificationpossible.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the cellular telephoneused to communication with base station 104 and the car radio areconfigured so as to allow communication with one another. Suchcommunication can be provided using well known Bluetooth technology forexample. In this manner, the cellular telephone can obtain the identityof the music provider from the car radio.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the cellular telephoneis configured with a communication protocol such as Bluetooth forallowing it to communicate with other devices such as music sources in amall or record store. When a subscriber hears music he or she desires tostore, the subscriber can dial a number for storing the music asdescribed above. The cellular telephone determines the music beingplayed by the music source by communication with the music source usingthe communication protocol. The music can then be downloaded for storageto a storage device, such as the cellular telephone or other storagedevice as described above.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the subscriberdoes not have to dial a telephone number. Rather, the subscriber cansimply press a button or choose a music storage menu option on thecellular telephone to indicate his or her desire to store the music.Upon detecting the indication, the cellular telephone communicates withthe music source to obtain the identification of the music thesubscriber desires to store. For example, the cellular telephone cansend a request to the music source indicating the subscriber's requestto store music. The request can including information related to thesubscriber such as name, address, email address, credit cardinformation, telephone number and other information so the subscribercan be appropriately billed.

Another reason for providing this information is to obtain customerinformation that can be used for promotional and other business-relatedpurposes, including determining customer-buying trends. In addition, theinformation provided in the request can include a music storage accountnumber associated with the subscriber. The account information can beused for alternate billing, such as through a third party subscriptionservice offering music storage services and to obtain a configurationfile corresponding to the user. The configuration file can includealternate storage location where the user desires the music to bestored.

Upon receiving the identification of the music provider that isproviding the music that the subscriber desires to store, the thirdparty music provider contacts the music provider, for example the musicprovider that is associated with the entered call letters, and respondsto the request as described above. For example, in one embodiment of thepresent invention, the third party music storage provider contacts theidentified music provider to obtain an identification of the music beingplayed. This contact preferably includes a request for the music desiredby the subscriber to be identified. The request can include anyinformation that the music provider requires for identifying the desiredmusic, for example, the time the subscriber indicated a desire to storethe music. Using the information, the music provider consults a playlist to identify the desired music, for example, the music scheduled tobe played (or actually played) at the time included in the request. Themusic provider forward the identification to the third party musicstorage provider. Using the identification provided by the musicprovider, the third party music storage provider obtains the music andforwards for storage to satisfy the subscriber's request.

Music can be downloaded to other devices besides a storage device in avehicle according to other embodiments of the present invention. Forexample, the subscriber can have music downloaded to a cellulartelephone, a landline telephone, a portable telephone, a pager, apersonal digital assistant (PDA), a personal computer, an iPOD, or anyother device the subscriber desires to download the music to.

Regardless of the device, the download can be of the entire music fileor of a portion of the music file. Preferably, the music is downloadedin a format that the device can use without requiring furtherformatting. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, themusic is downloaded in its native format and converted to a format thatthe device can use. For example, in one embodiment of the presentinvention in which music is downloaded to a telephone, the music isdownloaded in a well-known ring tone or other format. Such formatsinclude polyphonic ring tones and MP3.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the subscriber can choose todownload the music to a cellular telephone. In this embodiment of thepresent invention, the download can be for a variety of purposes,including for example, for use as a ring tone or for use to play throughthe cellular telephone speaker.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the present inventionin for storing music heard while a subscriber is listening to it using acellular telephone. A cellular telephone 502 communicates with a celltower 504 over an air interface 506. Cell tower 504 in turn is incommunication with a cellular telephone base station 508, for example amobile telephone switching office (MTSO), over link 510.

Cellular telephone base station 508 is in communication with a musicstore computer 512 in a music provider 511 over a link 513. Music storecomputer 512 is coupled to a music store database 514. Cellulartelephone base station 508 is also in communication with the Internet516 over a link 518. Music store computer 512 is in communication withthe Internet 516 over a link 520. Links 510, 513, 518 and 520 can be anycommunication links for carrying data transmissions. Such links includeair interfaces, land lines, and satellite links and are well known tothose skilled in the art.

In operation, a subscriber listening to a music player 522 hears musicthat he or she desires to store. Music player 522 can be any device forplaying music provided by a music provider. For example, music player522 can be a home stereo, a car stereo, a walkman, a portable radio, apersonal computer, a cellular telephone, a pager, an iPOD or any otherdevice capable of playing music.

When the subscriber hears music he or she desires to store, thesubscriber provides an indication of such desire. That indication cantake many forms as described above, including for example, voiceactivation or manual activation such as by pushing a button. In oneembodiment of the present invention, the indication is received by musicplayer 522, which causes a request for music storage to be made much inthe same way as described above. As described above, the music requestis satisfied and the music is stored. Storage can be either to cellulartelephone 502 itself or to a separate music store 524. Where the musicis to be stored can be sent as information in the request or provided inthe user's configuration file.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the subscriber providesthe indication or request to store the music to cellular telephone 502.Cellular telephone 502 is configured to accept the indication. This canbe by configuring the cellular telephone 502 with voice recognitionhardware and/or software to recognize the indication or by configuringcellular telephone 502 to recognize a special code entry. The code entrycan be any code entry such as any alphanumerical sequence, for example,a numerical code or a star code. Those skilled in the art wouldrecognize other techniques for configuring cellular telephone 502 torecognize the indication by the subscriber.

When cellular telephone 502 receives the indication from the subscriberto store the music it transmits a message to base station 508 throughcell tower 504. The message is a request to retrieve and store themusic. The music can be stored as desired by the subscriber. Forexample, the music can be stored as a ring tone to the cellulartelephone 502 as described above or to any other location, such asdescribed above. Several techniques for identifying the storage locationcan be used. For example, the storage location can be sent in themessage to base station 508.

The music is obtained either from music store database 308 or 514. Ifthe music is to be stored on a music storage device 524, the address ofmusic storage device is provided in the request. When the music isobtained, it is sent over Internet 516 to be stored on music storagedevice 524. Music storage device 524 can be any music storage device,including for example, CD-ROM, DVD, RAM, hard disk, floppy disk,removable disk storage device or any other device on which music datacan be stored.

If the music is to be stored on cellular telephone 502, it is sent tobase station 508. The music can be sent to base station 508 overInternet 516 or directly, if provided by music provider 511. Regardlessof how it is sent, it can be sent either as a music file compatible withcellular telephone 502 or as a music file that requires conversion to amusic file compatible with cellular telephone 502. For example, somecellular telephones allow playing of MP3 files. In such cases, basestation 508 can download all or a portion of the music file directly tocellular telephone 502. In one embodiment of the present invention, thedownload using the cellular telephone's digital control channel.

If cellular telephone 502 does not accept data in the format of thefile, the file must first be converted to a format compatible withcellular telephone 502. For example, if the music is obtained in an MP3format, but the cellular telephone only accepts ring tones, the musicmust first be converted from the MP3 format to a ring tone format. Thisconversion can be performed by base station 508. After conversion of thefile to a file compatible with cellular telephone 502, base station 508downloads the converted file to cellular telephone 502.

There are numerous ways for base station 508 to determine whethercellular telephone 502 is compatible with the obtained music file.According to one embodiment of the present invention for example, when acellular telephone is powered on in the range of base station 508 or ishanded off to base station 508, it registers with base station 508.During the registration process, cellular telephone 502 can sendinformation to base station 508. This information can include anidentification of one or more music formats that are compatible withcellular telephone 502. This information is stored in base station 508.Then, when a request to store music to a cellular telephone is processedby base station 508, base station 508 accesses the stored information todetermine what music format or formats are compatible with cellulartelephone 502.

In an embodiment of the present invention, music storage device 524 iscoupled to a computer 525 (and can be integral with computer 525), whichis coupled to Internet 516 over a link 526. Link 526 can be any linkcoupling music storage device 524 to Internet 516, including land line,air interface, cellular link, satellite link or any other link. Musicstorage device 524 does not have to be coupled to Internet 516 directly.That is, music storage device 524 may be coupled to Internet 516 througha modem in a personal computer. Such couplings of music storage device524 to Internet 516 would be well known to those having skill in theart.

Alternatively, the subscriber can store the storage location in theconfiguration file described above. In such a case, based station 508 isconfigured to retrieve the configuration file to determine the storagelocation. Depending on the provider of the service, the configurationfile can be located within base station 508 or in some other location.If the configuration file is stored in base station 508, base station508 simply accesses the configuration file.

If the configuration file is located in another location, base station508 retrieves the file. To retrieve the proper configuration file, basestation 508 must determine that location. In one embodiment of thepresent invention, base station 508 accesses a record associated withthe mobile identification number (MIN) of cellular telephone 502. Forexample, base station 508 can access the subscriber's cellular telephoneaccount. This can be accomplished by accessing the home locationregister or visitor location records associated with the MIN. Suchrecords would need to be configured to store the location of the musicstorage preference of the subscriber.

Base station 508 retrieves the configuration file and determines fromthe information contained therein the location where the subscriberdesires the music to be stored. Base station 508 packages thisinformation in another message that it forwards to the music providerthat provides the music the subscriber desires to store. The musicprovider's identity is provided in the request message sent to basestation 508. The request sent to base station 508 is similar to requestsdescribed above.

For example, in an embodiment of the present invention, cellulartelephone 502 is in communication with music player 522. Suchcommunication can be provided using any means for communicating suchinformation between music player 502 and cellular telephone 502. Forexample, communication between music player 522 and cellular telephone502 can operate according to the Bluetooth standard. When the subscriberindicates that he or she desires to store music using cellular telephone502, cellular telephone 502 queries music player 522 for the identity ofthe music provider providing the music at the time of the subscriber'srequest. Alternatively, music player 522 detects the subscriber'sindication and sends the identity of the music provider to cellulartelephone 502. Cellular telephone 522 then places the identity of themusic provider in the request that it sends to base station 508.

In another embodiment of the present invention, music player 522 detectsthe subscriber's indication and itself generates a request through abase station 508 to obtain and store the music in accordance with thesubscriber's request as described above.

Using the identity of the music provider found in the request, basestation 508 contacts the music provider to obtain the music. This can bedone as described above. As described above, the music can be downloadedto base station 508 for forwarding to the location for storing the musicspecified by the subscriber. Alternatively, base station 508 cantransmit the identity of the storage location to the music provider. Themusic provider then causes the music to be stored in the locationspecified by the request. Satisfaction of the music storage requestproceeds as described above.

In addition, in the embodiment described in FIG. 5, a third party musicprovider 302 can offer music provider services as described above. Isuch a case, the identity of third party music provider 302 is providedin the user's request or stored in the user's configuration file. Theidentify is preferably in the form of a network address. Alternativelythe identity is in the form of a name or other identification of thethird party music provider 302. This identity is converted to a networkaddress, for example, by a table lookup. Using the network address, themusic is obtained from third party provider 302 as described above.

In alternate embodiments of the present invention, the subscriber doesnot have to be using the cellular telephone at the time the subscriberhears the music in order to download ring tones, MP3 or other musicformats. For example, the user can indicate in his account that music isto be downloaded to the user's cellular telephone in the form of a ringtone. When the subscriber requests storage of music, the music is storedto the subscriber's cellular telephone. In one embodiment of the presentinvention, the subscriber provides the MIN of the cellular telephone towhich the music is desired to be stored. Using the MIN, the appropriatebase station servicing the cellular telephone is contacted to send themusic for download to the cellular telephone.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart for a method for storing randomly selected musicaccording to an embodiment of the present invention. A subscriberprovides requests (indicates a desire) to store music at the time he orshe hears it. As described above, the request can take a number of formsincluding pushing a button or a voice indication. In step 602, theindication is received. In step 603, a request is generated, forexample, by a base station. The request, as described above, includesinformation required for the subscriber's request to be satisfied. Therequest is transmitted to a music provider in step 604. In step 606,music corresponding to the request is identified, retrieved and sentback to the requester. The music is received from the music provider instep 607′. The music is stored in step 608.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the present inventionfor use in storing music or movies that a subscriber hears or views in amovie theater. A movie theater 702 contains at least one seat 704 a and704 b. For purposes of the present invention, the term seat includes theterm chair and the terms are used interchangeably herein. One or more ofseats 704 a and 704 b has a card reader, for example, card readers 706 aand 706 b. Card readers 706 a and 706 b are used to read for example acredit card, a debit card, a memory card or any other memory storagecard.

In operation, a subscriber desiring to store a song, a movie orsoundtrack of a movie to a storage device sits in a seat having a cardreader. For example, the subscriber can sit in seat 704 a having cardreader 706 a. The card reader can be located in any convenient portionof the chair. For example, according to one embodiment of the presentinvention, card reader 706 a is located in an arm of seat 704 a. Whenthe subscriber desires to store music that he or she hears during amovie, or the entire movie soundtrack or the movie itself, thesubscriber provides an indication of his or her desire. According to oneembodiment of the present invention, this indication is provided bysliding a card through card reader 706 a and pressing a button toindicate the subscriber's desire. For example, according to anembodiment of the present invention, the subscriber slides his or hercredit card, debit card or other payment card through card reader 706 a.The card can also be slid through the card reader at the time the usersits in the seat. In such a case, the indication can be provided simplyby pressing a button. According to an embodiment of the presentinvention, the card can be a card provided by the movie theater, arecord company, a movie studio or other provider. Such a card can beissued in response to a registration process in which the user obtainsthe card. The cards can be prepaid or pay-for-service via a subscriberaccount as described above. Alternatively, the card can be the user'scredit card, debit card or other card for providing payment.

The music is the song playing in the movie at the time the subscriberindicates his or her desire to store the song. The soundtrack is themovie soundtrack and the movie is the movie itself. Card reader 706 areads the information on the subscriber's card, and generates a requestusing the information. For example, the request can include thesubscriber's name, phone number or other identifying information relatedto the subscriber and the time of the request.

The request is sent to a computer 708. Computer 708 is any computer, forexample a PC or laptop computer that is configured to perform thefunctions described herein. Such computers that can be configured toperform the functions described herein would be well-known to thosehaving skill in the relevant art.

Computer 708 determines the identity of the movie, song or soundtrackrequested by the subscriber. This can be done in a number of ways. Forexample, in one embodiment of the present invention, several buttons areprovided near the card reader that the subscriber can press to indicatehis or her desire. For example, in one embodiment of the presentinvention, three buttons are provided: one labeled “movie”, one labeled“song” and the other labeled “soundtrack”. The buttons are configuredsuch that when one is pressed, the corresponding identity of the movie,song or sound track is obtained. For example, if a user pressed the“movie” button, the identity of the movie playing in the movie theateris provided to computer 708. This identity can be provided by simply alookup of a schedule of movies using a time of the request and anidentify of a particular theater in which the movie is playing.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the subscriber slides his orher card at any time during the movie and presses one of the buttons toselect what he or she desires to purchase. A request is generated when aparticular button is pressed. The request includes an indication of theuser's selection or movie, song or soundtrack. The request is sent tocomputer 708. The request can be sent via wireline or using wirelesscommunication, such as Bluetooth, 802.11 or other wireless communicationprotocols.

Computer 708 then satisfies the subscriber's request by obtaining therequested, movie, song or soundtrack and causing it to be forwarded to adestination computer 714 for storage on a storage device 716. Storagedevice 716 can be integral with computer 714. Destination computer 714and storage device 716 are associated with the subscriber. For example,destination computer 714 and storage device 716 can be in thesubscriber's car, the subscriber's home or some other destination. Inanother embodiment of the present invention, the address of destinationcomputer 714 is provided in a configuration file corresponding to thesubscriber, or stored on the card itself.

Storage is not limited to a computer. For example, storage can be to acellular telephone, DVD player or any other storage device for storingthe selected movie, song or soundtrack. The destination can be providedon the card or via a configuration file. The configuration file can becreated as described above and managed by the movie theater or a thirdparty. Where a third party manages the configuration file, computer 708is configured to identify and contact the third party. Thisidentification can be provided, for example, by reading the card thesubscriber uses to select the movie, song or soundtrack for storage.Moreover, in such an embodiment of the present invention, the address ofthe computer storing the configuration file can be stored on the card.

As described above, gifts of movies, songs and/or soundtracks can begiven by designating the address of a computer associated with therecipient as the destination computer. A user can provide the desiredcomputer address at the time of registration when the user receives thecard, or can pre-specify the address in the configuration file.

Where the storage is storage of a movie, the movie can be stored on thestorage device but not released or available for viewing by thesubscriber until after a pre-determined release date. For example, moviestudios that release movies often determine the date when the movie canbe released to the public on DVD or other publicly available medium. Insuch a case, embodiments of the present invention provide for storingusers' requests in a pending movie request queue. In one embodiment ofthe present invention, the request is stored along with the movierelease date. In another embodiment of the present invention, the movieidentification in the request is used to obtain the release date from adatabase at the time the pending request is polled.

Periodically, or in some other systematic manner, the movie pendingrequest queue is polled. Any requests for movies where the movie releasedate has been passed are satisfied. For example, as described above, themovie identified in the request is obtained and sent to the storagelocation indicated in the request.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a database 710 located atthe theater in which the subscriber is viewing the movie stores movies,songs and soundtracks. Computer 708 is configured to query database 710with the identity of the song, movie or soundtrack requested by thesubscriber to obtain the digital file that has a digital representationof the movie, song or soundtrack. The data is obtained and forwarded todestination computer 714 for storage on storage device 716. The data canbe forwarded over the Internet or any other method for transmitting thedata from computer 708 to destination computer 714.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the address of destinationcomputer 714 is provided in a registration process that the subscriberperforms to register with the theater to use the movie, song and/orsoundtrack storage service of the present invention.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a third party provider712 provides the movie and/or music storage service of the presentinvention. Third party provider 712 can be any third party provider,including for example, a movie studio, record company or other thirdparty provider. In one embodiment of the present invention having athird party provider 712, computer 708 transmits a request to a computer713 of third party provider 712. The request includes information thatis required by third party provider 712. For example, the request caninclude the identity of the song, movie or soundtrack to be stored andthe address of destination computer 714 to which to send the data forstorage on storage device 716. In one embodiment of the presentinvention, the identity of the song, movie, or soundtrack is obtained asdescribed above.

Using the information provided in the request, for example, the identityof the song, movie or soundtrack, computer 713 obtains the datacorresponding to the song, movie or soundtrack from a database 711.Database 711 stores digital data corresponding to songs, movies orsoundtracks that third party provider 712 can provide.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, third partyprovider 712 sends a version of the movie, song and/or soundtrack to theuser other than using a computer network, for example, by mail or otherdelivery service. For example, in one embodiment of the presentinvention, the non-electronic version is a DVD, CD-ROM, cassette orother storage medium through the mail or other delivery service. Theuser can determine the form to respond to the request in a number ofways. For example, additional buttons can be provided to the seat thatallow the user to select the form in which to deliver his or herselection. For example, such buttons could be “electronic” to deliverthe selection electronically, “mail-DVD” to deliver the selection bymail on a DVD or “Overnight-CD-ROM” to deliver the selection by expressdelivery service.

Alternatively, the user can select the type of delivery service he orshe prefers at the time a configuration file is set up. For example, theconfiguration file would be set up to indicate the form and preferreddelivery service in the configuration file when the user registers forthe service. The address of the computer containing the configurationfile can be provided by the user during a registration process. Thisregistration process could be performed, for example, when the userobtains the card.

In the case of mail or delivery service where a street address isrequired, the required address can be determined in a number of ways.For example, the address can be the address associated with the creditcard used to purchase the desired movie, song and/or soundtrack. In oneembodiment of the present invention, the street address is determined bycontacting a credit card or debit card service computer (not shown)associated with the credit card the user slides through the card reader.

Alternatively, a configuration file having the purchaser's streetaddress can be consulted to obtain the required street addressinformation. For example, in one embodiment of the present, invention,where the purchaser registers with the movie theater, the configurationfile is stored in database 710. Alternatively, third party providers canprovide computer 708 with appropriate configuration file accessinformation. The provided configuration file access information can bestored in database 710.

If the user purchases a card at the movie theater, another mechanismmust be used to provide a street address if required. In one embodimentof the present invention, the street address can be encoded onto thecard when purchased using information associated with a credit card ordebit card used to purchase the card at the movie theater. Thus, at thetime of purchase the point of sale device can contact the credit card ordebit card provider to obtain the requisite street address information.That street address information can then be encoded on the cardpurchased at the movie theater to be used to purchase a movie, song orsoundtrack as described above. If the user has no credit, debit card orother identification card that has the required street addressinformation, the user can provide the information at the time of sale,and that information can be encoded onto the card when purchased. Othermethods for obtaining the required street address information would beknown to those skilled in the art.

Computer 713 obtains the appropriate movie, song or soundtrack data fromdatabase 711 and forwards it to destination computer 714. The data canbe forwarded in a number of manners, including over the Internet orother computer network. The data is then stored on storage device 716.

In another embodiment of the present invention, only the soundtrack ormovie or song is available to the subscriber. That is, the theater onlyprovides the subscriber with the ability to store either the movie,soundtrack or song at the time of the subscriber's indication of adesire to store the data. In this case, the data obtained by computer708 for transmittal to destination computer 714 for storage on storagedevice 716 is either the movie, soundtrack or song playing at the timeof the indication depending upon the particular implementation of thepresent invention.

The music storage apparatus illustrated in FIG. 2 need not be located incar 102. For example, the music storage apparatus can be located in thesubscriber's home. FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of the presentinvention in which the storage apparatus for storing the data requestedby the subscriber is located in a home 802 of the subscriber. In theembodiment shown in FIG. 8, the music is transferred to a computer 804for storage on a music storage device 806. As described above, the musiccan also be sent over the Internet for storage in the subscriber's home.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a system for transmitting the musicover the Internet 902. Transmission over the Internet proceeds asdescribed above. The music storage apparatus can be located anywhereelse desired by the subscriber.

Once stored using embodiments of the present invention as illustrated inFIG. 8 or 9, the music can be downloaded to a device in the subscriber'scar. Such devices can include any device that can be configured to storethe music such as music storage device 206. The downloading can be overany interface, including a computer network, a Bluetooth network or anyother network that can be configured for such downloading. Music canalso be stored in a subscriber's cellular telephone or other storagedevice such as an iPod. The cellular telephone or other storage devicecan then be taken to the car and coupled to the car's stereo. The musicstored on the telephone or other storage device can then be playedthrough the car's stereo.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the present inventionfor a general requesting device 1002. Such general requesting device canbe any device that can be configured to detect an indication from a userthat he or she desires to store data (such as music or movies describedabove). Exemplary general requesting devices include, withoutlimitation, remote control devices such as television remote controls,device that can be clipped onto clothing, such as might be worn at a gymor when out in general and devices that can be attached to key rings orkey chains, including for example, remote car entry devices and keyfobs.

General requesting device 1002 can include one or more buttons 1004 a,1004 b that a user can press to generate a request to store music thatthe user is listening to. General requesting device 1002 communicateswith a base station 1008 over an interface 1006. Interface 1006 can beany interface using any communication protocol. For example, suchinterfaces include without limitation, cellular telephone, satellite,computer, and land-line telephone networks, and infrared communication.Base station 1008 is in communication with a music store computer 512 ina music provider 511 over a link 1009. Music store computer 512 iscoupled to a music store database 514. Base station 1008 is also incommunication with the Internet 516 over a link 1010. Music storecomputer 512 is in communication with the Internet 516 over a link 520.Links 510, 1009, 1010 and 520 can be any communication links forcarrying data transmissions. Such links include air interfaces,landlines, and satellite links and are well known to those skilled inthe art.

In operation, a subscriber listening to a music player 522 hears musicthat he or she desires to download to a destination device. Music player522 can be any device for playing music provided by a music provider.For example, music player 522 can be a home stereo, a car stereo, awalkman, a portable radio, an iPOD, a personal computer, a cellulartelephone, a pager, or any other device capable of playing music.

When the subscriber hears music he or she desires to store, thesubscriber provides an indication of such desire. That indication cantake many forms as described above, including for example, voiceactivation or manual activation such as by pushing button 1004 a. In oneembodiment of the present invention, the indication is received by musicplayer 522, which causes a request for music storage to be made much inthe same way as described above. As described above, the music requestis satisfied and the music is stored. The music is stored on a musicstorage device 524. Music storage device 524 can be any music storagedevice, including for example, CD-ROM, DVD, RAM, hard disk, floppy disk,removable disk storage device or any other device on which music datacan be stored.

In an embodiment of the present invention, music storage device 524 iscoupled to Internet 516 over a link 526. Link 526 can be any linkcoupling music storage device 524 to Internet 516, including land line,air interface, cellular link, satellite link or any other link. Musicstorage device 524 does not have to be coupled to Internet 516 directly.That is, music storage device 524 may be coupled to Internet 516 througha modem in a personal computer or by other coupling mechanism. Suchcouplings of music storage device 524 to Internet 516 would be wellknown to those having skill in the art.

Music storage device 524 does not have to be connected to the Internet.For example, music storage device can be coupled to third party 302 ormusic provider 511 over an air interface. Such air interface can be anyair interface, including without limitation, satellite and cellularcommunication networks.

In operation, the subscriber provides the indication or request to storethe music to music storage device 524. The request can be by through anymeans, including without limitation, voice activation and pressingbutton 1004. Device 1002 is configured to accept the indication. Thoseskilled in the art would recognize other techniques for configuringdevice 1002 to recognize the indication by the subscriber.

When the user makes a request to store music using general requestingdevice 1002, general requesting device 1002 transmits a message to basestation 1008. The message is a request to retrieve and store the musicon music storage device 524. The music can be stored as desired by thesubscriber. Several techniques for identifying the storage location canbe used. For example, the storage location can be sent in the message tobase station 1008.

Alternatively, the subscriber can store the storage location in theconfiguration file described above. In such a case, base station 1008 isconfigured to retrieve the configuration file to determine the storagelocation. Depending on the provider of the service, the configurationfile can be located within base station 1008 or in some other location.If the configuration file is stored in base station 1008, base station1008 simply accesses the configuration file.

If the configuration file is located in another location, base station1008 retrieves the file. To retrieve the proper configuration file, basestation 1008 must determine that location. In one embodiment of thepresent invention, base station 1008 accesses a record associated withan identifier transmitted by general requesting device 1002. Forexample, base station 1008 can access an account associated with thesubscriber. Such an account can be created at the time the subscriberregisters to use the music storage service.

Base station 1008 retrieves the configuration file and determines fromthe information contained therein the location where the subscriberdesires the music to be stored. Base station 1008 packages thisinformation in another message that it forwards to the music providerthat provides the music the subscriber desires to store. The musicprovider's identity is provided in the request message sent to basestation 1008. The request sent to base station 1008 is similar torequests described above.

The identity of the music provider must be provided to base station1008. In an embodiment of the present invention, general requestingdevice 1002 is in communication with music player 522. Suchcommunication can be provided using any means for communicating suchinformation between music player 522 and general requesting device 1002.For example, Bluetooth technology can be used to provide communicationbetween music player 522 and general requesting device 1002. When thesubscriber indicates that he or she desires to store music using generalrequesting device 1002, general requesting device 1002 queries musicplayer 522 for the identity of the music provider providing the music atthe time of the subscriber's request. Alternatively, music player 522detects the subscriber's indication and sends the identity of the musicprovider to general requesting device 1002. General requesting device1002 then places the identity of the music provider in the request thatit sends to base station 1008.

In another embodiment of the present invention, music player 522 detectsthe subscriber's indication and itself generates a request through abase station 1008 to obtain and store the music in accordance with thesubscriber's request as described above.

Using the identity of the music provider found in the request, basestation 1008 contacts the music provider to obtain the music. This canbe done as described above. As described above, the music can bedownloaded to base station 1008 for forwarding to the location forstoring the music specified by the subscriber. Alternatively, basestation 1008 can transmit the identity of the storage location to themusic provider. The music provider then causes the music to be stored inthe location specified by the request. Satisfaction of the music storagerequest proceeds as described above.

In addition, in the embodiment described in FIG. 10, a third party musicprovider 302 can offer music provider services as described above.

FIG. 10A is a schematic diagram of a general requesting device 1002according to an embodiment of the present invention. General requestingdevice 1002 can be used to request any type of data, including music,that the user desires to store. One or more I/O pads 1051 a, 1051 b arecoupled to buttons 1004 a, 1004 b to detect a button press. Buttondebouncing circuitry can be used to eliminate erroneous detection of asingle button press as multiple button presses.

Data is received and transmitted through antenna 1052 using acommunication protocol such as those identified above. Received data isdemodulated in demodulator 1054 and input to a processor 1058.Demodulator 1054 includes any required amplification, filtering, downconversion or other signal processing required to demodulate thereceived data for input to processor 1058. Modulator 1056 modulates datafro transmission. Modulator 1056 includes any required amplification,filtering, up conversion or other signal processing required to modulatethe data to be transmitted.

Processor 1058 can be any controller for controlling operation ofgeneral requesting device 1002. For example, processor 1058 can be amicrocontroller or a microprocessor configured to perform the operationsdescribed herein for the operation of general requesting device 1002.Memory 1060 is available to processor 1058 for temporary or permanentstorage. For example, memory 1060 can store user identificationinformation that can be sent to a data provider in response to a userindication to store data, such as by pressing a button on generalrequesting device 1002. Other information, such as time of theindication and location to store the data, can be including the request.In an embodiment of the present invention, processor 1058 generates therequest.

For example, in one embodiment of the present invention, the request isa request for storing a song heard by the user. Processor 1058 generatesa request that includes user identification (such as user name oraccount number), time of user indication to store music and locationwhere the music should be stored. They user's identity can be stored inmemory 1060. The time of the indication can be obtained from a clocktimer 1062.

A power supply 1064 provides power to components of device 1002. Powersupply 1064 can be a batter or a converter from an external supply suchas a car cigarette lighter or other power source. Components of device1002 can be coupled to one another directly or by using a bus structure(not shown).

FIG. 10B is a flow chart for a method of storing data (such as music)using a general device 1002 for storing data according to an embodimentof the present invention. A button indicating a user's desire to storedata is detected in step 1080. In step 1082, the data to be stored isdetermined In step 1084, a request is generated to obtain the data to bestored. In an embodiment of the present invention, the request includesone or more of a user identification, a time of the user's indication tostore data and a storage location where data responsive to the requestis to be stored. For example, the storage location can be a computernetwork address, a MIN of a cellular telephone or other deviceidentification. In step 1086, a data provider that can satisfy therequest is identified. The identification can be performed as describedabove by the data source communicating an identity of the data providerthat can satisfy the request. In step 1088, the request is sent to theidentified data provider. The request is satisfied in step 1090 by thedata provider and the data is sent to the storage location included inthe request for storage.

The foregoing disclosure of the preferred embodiments of the presentinvention has been presented for the purposes of illustration anddescription. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit theinvention to the precise forms disclosed. Many variations andmodifications of the embodiments described herein will be apparent toone of ordinary skill in the art in light of the above disclosure. Thescope of the invention is to be defined only by the claims appendedhereto, and by their equivalents.

Further, in describing representative embodiments of the presentinvention, the specification may have presented the method and/orprocess of the present invention as a particular sequence of steps.However, to the extent that the method or process does not rely on theparticular order of steps set forth herein, the method or process shouldnot be limited to the particular sequence of steps described. As one ofordinary skill in the art would appreciate, other sequences of steps maybe possible. Therefore, the particular order of the steps set forth inthe specification should not be construed as limitations on the claims.In addition, the claims directed to the method and/or process of thepresent invention should not be limited to the performance of theirsteps in the order written, and one skilled in the art can readilyappreciate that the sequences may by varied and still remain within thespirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for storing music, comprising: a storagedevice to store a song as it is being played to a subscriber; a buttonpressed by the subscriber while listening to the song to indicate adesire to store the song being played to the subscriber, whereinpressing the button causes a timestamp to access a playlist tounambiguously identify the song to be transmitted to a source forobtaining the song being played to the subscriber; and a processor tocause the storage device to store only the song being played from itsbeginning in the storage device when the subscriber is authorized tostore the song.
 2. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the storagedevice is located in a vehicle in which the subscriber is located. 3.The system recited in claim 2, wherein the storage device is one of afloppy drive, hard drive, CD-ROM, a DVD and a RAM.
 4. The system recitedin claim 1, wherein the storage device is located in a telephone and thesong is transmitted in one of a ring tone or MP3 format for storage as aring tone in the telephone.
 5. The system recited in claim 4, whereinonly a portion of the song is stored in the telephone and the processorcauses the storage device to record the song automatically.
 6. Thesystem recited in claim 4, wherein the telephone is a cellulartelephone.
 7. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the subscriber isbilled to store the song.
 8. The system recited in claim 1, wherein thesubscriber is billed to store the song on a per-use basis.
 9. The systemrecited in claim 1, wherein the subscriber is billed to store the songon a periodic basis.
 10. The system recited in claim 1, wherein thesubscriber prepays to store the song.
 11. A method for storing randomlyselected music being listened to by a subscriber on demand, comprising:receiving data corresponding to the music, wherein the music includes atleast one song; storing the music data according to a processor as it isreceived; receiving an indication including a timestamp to access aplaylist to unambiguously identify the song from a subscriber to store aparticular song contained in the music that the subscriber is listeningto; determining a beginning storage location of the particular song;determining whether the subscriber is authorized to store the particularsong; and storing the particular song from the beginning storagelocation according to the processor if the subscriber is authorized tostore the song in a new storage location.
 12. The method recited inclaim 11, further comprising detecting the push of a button to receivethe indication from the subscriber.
 13. The method recited in claim 11,further comprising reformatting the song prior to storing it.
 14. Themethod recited in claim 11, further comprising reformatting the song inaccordance with the storage device prior to receiving the music forstorage.
 15. The method recited in claim 11, further comprisingreformatting the song in accordance with the storage device afterreceiving the music for storage.
 16. A method for storing randomlyselected music when hearing it, comprising: detecting an indication in aprocessor to store a song while the song is being heard; generating arequest in the processor to store the music in response to theindication, wherein the request contains a timestamp to access aplaylist to unambiguously identify the song being heard; transmittingthe request to a music provider to obtain song data to store the songfrom its beginning, wherein the request includes a location of where tostore the song data; receiving the song data; determining whetherauthorization has been provided for storing the song; and storing thesong data according to the processor if authorization has been providedfor storing the song.
 17. The method recited in claim 16, comprisingproviding a computer network address as the location of where to storethe song data.
 18. The method recited in claim 16, comprising a cellulartelephone MIN as the location of where to store the song data.
 19. Themethod recited in claim 16, comprising billing the subscriber for thesong storage.